An Albanian ruler considered Alexander the Great as his countryman
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We are going to present in following some pieces from a journal reportage of some European travelers* who met Albanian ruler of Egypt, Mehmet Ali Pasha (1769 1849)**. This journal paper goes to them who thought</p>
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Albanians as newcomers in Macedonia, while allevidences support the contrary. Alexander the Great has left his traces in memory of native people of Macedonia. That’s why Albanians of Macedonia never forgot their hero and were inspired to follow him.</p>
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And first, here is the portrait of Mdhemed Ali’s prime minister:” Among the men attached to the fortune of Mehemed-Ali, few have rendered him so useful and important services as Boghos-Bey. Boghos-Youijouf, an Armenian, born at Smyrna, in his youth tried unsuccessfully various kinds of commerce. He arrived in Egypt at the time of the French invasion, and joined the pacha in the quality of interpreter; in which difficult post he distinguished himself by his talents and assiduity. The suppleness of his character did not save him from falling into disgrace with his master, who had, we are assured, given order that he should be thrown into the Nile. The interference of M. de Rosetti, consul-general of Tuscany, who then enjoyed great influence with the pacha, saved the life of Boghos, who soon resumed his functions of interpreter ; and his credit has since that period never ceased to increase. None knew better than Boghos the art of prolonging business when interest required that it should not be terminated. Skilful in giving offence to nobody, in not contradicting, in not yielding, yet without ever refusing ; his manners arc always affable, his reception gracious, his politeness refined. Possessing more natural mind than acquired knowledge, more skilfulness in business than large administrative views, more finesse than real talent; but indefatigable in labour, endowed with a sound judgment, and entirely devoted to the viceroy, to whom he owes his fortune, it cannot be denied that, in many circumstances, he has given him important aid. Boghos – Youc,onf- Bey is at present the first minister of Mchemed, over whose mind he exercises a very great ascendency : we will add, that it is to be regretted that the fear of alienating the mind of his master, by opposing his favourite ideas, has more than once hindered him from giving more energetic and more conscientious counsels.”Nearly all the great men of Eastern history have risen from obscurity. Now, for a picture of the viceroy himself: ” A sentinel was placed at the door of one ofarranged in the Albanian fashion. Endowed with much natural intelligence, joining the most prepossessing manners to a great enthusiasm for the European innovations, the pacha possesses, in the highest degree, the art of captivating his hearers, and of imposing his manner of seeing things on those who are about him. We need not be surprised, therefore, at the reputation which has been given to him in Europe by the persons who have had an opportunity of approaching him. We were impatient to begin a conversation in which we expected that the regenerator of Egypt was going to reveal himself to us; but it turned almost entirely on questions of commerce, and we could not help feeling a kind of disappointment in finding only the speculator and merchant, where we thought we should have found the conqueror and legislator. * *“ Alexander the Great is the favourite hero of the viceroy. Having learnt that there existed a summary of the historians of this conqueror, he ordered the work to be procured from France. We were present when it was brought to him: arabesques in gold added to the elegance of this handsome volume, on which Thouvenin seemed to have exhausted the resources of his art. ‘ In how short a time can you give me this book translated?’ was the question he put to one of his interpreters. ‘ In six months.’ ‘ It is too long,’ answered the pacha, with vivacity; and seizing immediately the yataghan of one of his khawass, he quickly parted the rich volume into three. ‘ In this manner three of you can work upon it; I must have the translation in two months. And I also,’ said M£hemed-Ali to us, ‘ I intend that the events of my life shall be related to men. Every day I dictate to my kiatib (secretary) a portion of my history; and it is wonderful how one fact brings up another, and how a crowd of circumstances, which I had forgotten, are brought back to my memory. Admire,’ added he, after a moment’s silence, ‘ how He who knows all things, is impenetrable in his designs. They tell me that Alexander and Ptolemy were Macedonians; and I, too, am of Macedonia. Our country, then, was destined thrice to give masters to Egypt; but my power extends much further than theirs in this country, and I hope, with the assistance of Heaven, to discover one day if, as your Champollion believes, the Pharaohs reached the sources of this Nile blessed by God.’ Our conversation lasted more tnan an hour; the physiognomy of the pacha was animated, and we experienced an inexpressible charm in hearing this extraordinary man abandoning himself to his natural talkativeness and curiosity, and mixing more than once traits of ingenuous ignorance with the observations of a subtle and penetrating mind. After we had been served with coffee in xarfs, ornamented with diamonds, the viceroy arose, and we took our leave of him, announcing to hirn, at the same time, our departure for Nubia. ‘ Go,’ said he,’ visit without fear every part of my dominions; every where you will find aid and protection.’”Our authors give us very numerous instances of the terrible and oppressive tyranny under which the Egyptians groan, of the fearful manner in which they are bruised, and the country depopulated by the iron sceptre of their viceroy, whose government presents so much outward splendour. The following is the process of conscription in Egypt during the pacha’s wars: it must not be forgotten, in extenuation, that the “grand” Napoleon, the idol of the French revolutionists, did much the same thing for France :” When a levy is ordered, the governors divide the number of conscripts to be furnished among the villages; and then, in execution of the measure, they send, as secretly as possible, the irregular Albanians attached to their service, to carry off the number of men required, So soon as the presence of these agents is announced on any point, the cultivators take flight, and the soldiers pursue them across the cultivated fields, which are trodden under foot by the horses, and ruined in every direction. At last, after one or two hunts, the Albanians obtain the number of prisoners fixed by the authority; but, in spite of the exact orders which are given, and after even severe punishment, the greater part of the unfortunates who are caught, are always children, old men, or men unfit for service, who, less nimble in flight, must necessarily be first caught. All the men whom the irregulars have captured are carried, in chains, to the nearest town, and there imprisoned lyitil the physician has examined them. The visit being ended, those who are judged unfit for service are sent hom
Per me shume artikuj te ngjashem vizitoni: http://www.albpelasgian.com/?p=262
We are going to present in following some pieces from a journal reportage of some European travelers* who met Albanian ruler of Egypt, Mehmet Ali Pasha (1769 1849)**. This journal paper goes to them who thought</p>
Albanians as newcomers in Macedonia, while allevidences support the contrary. Alexander the Great has left his traces in memory of native people of Macedonia. That’s why Albanians of Macedonia never forgot their hero and were inspired to follow him.</p>
</p>
And first, here is the portrait of Mdhemed Ali’s prime minister:” Among the men attached to the fortune of Mehemed-Ali, few have rendered him so useful and important services as Boghos-Bey. Boghos-Youijouf, an Armenian, born at Smyrna, in his youth tried unsuccessfully various kinds of commerce. He arrived in Egypt at the time of the French invasion, and joined the pacha in the quality of interpreter; in which difficult post he distinguished himself by his talents and assiduity. The suppleness of his character did not save him from falling into disgrace with his master, who had, we are assured, given order that he should be thrown into the Nile. The interference of M. de Rosetti, consul-general of Tuscany, who then enjoyed great influence with the pacha, saved the life of Boghos, who soon resumed his functions of interpreter ; and his credit has since that period never ceased to increase. None knew better than Boghos the art of prolonging business when interest required that it should not be terminated. Skilful in giving offence to nobody, in not contradicting, in not yielding, yet without ever refusing ; his manners arc always affable, his reception gracious, his politeness refined. Possessing more natural mind than acquired knowledge, more skilfulness in business than large administrative views, more finesse than real talent; but indefatigable in labour, endowed with a sound judgment, and entirely devoted to the viceroy, to whom he owes his fortune, it cannot be denied that, in many circumstances, he has given him important aid. Boghos – Youc,onf- Bey is at present the first minister of Mchemed, over whose mind he exercises a very great ascendency : we will add, that it is to be regretted that the fear of alienating the mind of his master, by opposing his favourite ideas, has more than once hindered him from giving more energetic and more conscientious counsels.”Nearly all the great men of Eastern history have risen from obscurity. Now, for a picture of the viceroy himself: ” A sentinel was placed at the door of one ofarranged in the Albanian fashion. Endowed with much natural intelligence, joining the most prepossessing manners to a great enthusiasm for the European innovations, the pacha possesses, in the highest degree, the art of captivating his hearers, and of imposing his manner of seeing things on those who are about him. We need not be surprised, therefore, at the reputation which has been given to him in Europe by the persons who have had an opportunity of approaching him. We were impatient to begin a conversation in which we expected that the regenerator of Egypt was going to reveal himself to us; but it turned almost entirely on questions of commerce, and we could not help feeling a kind of disappointment in finding only the speculator and merchant, where we thought we should have found the conqueror and legislator. * *“ Alexander the Great is the favourite hero of the viceroy. Having learnt that there existed a summary of the historians of this conqueror, he ordered the work to be procured from France. We were present when it was brought to him: arabesques in gold added to the elegance of this handsome volume, on which Thouvenin seemed to have exhausted the resources of his art. ‘ In how short a time can you give me this book translated?’ was the question he put to one of his interpreters. ‘ In six months.’ ‘ It is too long,’ answered the pacha, with vivacity; and seizing immediately the yataghan of one of his khawass, he quickly parted the rich volume into three. ‘ In this manner three of you can work upon it; I must have the translation in two months. And I also,’ said M£hemed-Ali to us, ‘ I intend that the events of my life shall be related to men. Every day I dictate to my kiatib (secretary) a portion of my history; and it is wonderful how one fact brings up another, and how a crowd of circumstances, which I had forgotten, are brought back to my memory. Admire,’ added he, after a moment’s silence, ‘ how He who knows all things, is impenetrable in his designs. They tell me that Alexander and Ptolemy were Macedonians; and I, too, am of Macedonia. Our country, then, was destined thrice to give masters to Egypt; but my power extends much further than theirs in this country, and I hope, with the assistance of Heaven, to discover one day if, as your Champollion believes, the Pharaohs reached the sources of this Nile blessed by God.’ Our conversation lasted more tnan an hour; the physiognomy of the pacha was animated, and we experienced an inexpressible charm in hearing this extraordinary man abandoning himself to his natural talkativeness and curiosity, and mixing more than once traits of ingenuous ignorance with the observations of a subtle and penetrating mind. After we had been served with coffee in xarfs, ornamented with diamonds, the viceroy arose, and we took our leave of him, announcing to hirn, at the same time, our departure for Nubia. ‘ Go,’ said he,’ visit without fear every part of my dominions; every where you will find aid and protection.’”Our authors give us very numerous instances of the terrible and oppressive tyranny under which the Egyptians groan, of the fearful manner in which they are bruised, and the country depopulated by the iron sceptre of their viceroy, whose government presents so much outward splendour. The following is the process of conscription in Egypt during the pacha’s wars: it must not be forgotten, in extenuation, that the “grand” Napoleon, the idol of the French revolutionists, did much the same thing for France :” When a levy is ordered, the governors divide the number of conscripts to be furnished among the villages; and then, in execution of the measure, they send, as secretly as possible, the irregular Albanians attached to their service, to carry off the number of men required, So soon as the presence of these agents is announced on any point, the cultivators take flight, and the soldiers pursue them across the cultivated fields, which are trodden under foot by the horses, and ruined in every direction. At last, after one or two hunts, the Albanians obtain the number of prisoners fixed by the authority; but, in spite of the exact orders which are given, and after even severe punishment, the greater part of the unfortunates who are caught, are always children, old men, or men unfit for service, who, less nimble in flight, must necessarily be first caught. All the men whom the irregulars have captured are carried, in chains, to the nearest town, and there imprisoned lyitil the physician has examined them. The visit being ended, those who are judged unfit for service are sent hom
Per me shume artikuj te ngjashem vizitoni: http://www.albpelasgian.com/?p=262